- says there is no possiblility of coalition with BNF
- agrees to fight for the registration of the rejected constitution
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leadership has reportedly resolved to remain under the opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) ruling out a direct coalition with Botswana National Front (BNF).
Following the recent BCP national conference there have been widespread allegations that the party would leave the UDC and engage the BNF to establish a working relation ahead of the 2019 general elections. The BCP sought to separate itself from two UDC partners, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP) as they were perceived to be collaborating to destroy the opposition coalition.
The Botswana Gazette is reliably informed that at the weekend’s leadership meeting held in Mmokolodi the party agreed to remain within the UDC and try to resolve the current impasse within the opposition coalition. Insiders revealed that although initially the party’s leadership was divided over which decision would be best for the party they ended up settling to remain within UDC. According to an insider some part of the leadership wanted the party to pull out from UDC while others were against that idea. “After thorough debate the leadership agreed that pulling out from the opposition will be suicidal therefore they should remain in UDC and help to resolve the crises besieging the coalition. They fear that should they pull out the voters are likely to shun the party just like they did in 2014 general elections when they went for the elections as solo,” an insider revealed.
BCP Deputy Secretary General Philip Monowe confirmed the meeting but declined to shed light on what was discussed insisting that it was internal. “It was a regular central committee meeting so I am not in position to share what we discussed with the media. Further I can confirm that Boko was in attendance because we invited him,” Monowe said in an interview.